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It's been five months since Ree Drummond and her husband Ladd dropped their youngest son off at college. "I did my best to put on a brave face, but my eyes were welling with tears and the lump in my throat felt like a watermelon," Ree said as she parted ways with Todd who's attending college in South Dakota. The goodbye wasn't an easy one—and any empty nester can relate to the emotional experience.
After years of football practice, homeschooling, and a house full of teenagers, Ree and Ladd are finally on their own. So, what's there to do once all the kids are out of the house?
"Life is weird these days," Ree wrote in a Facebook post, "A little lighter, less laundry, much more quiet."
Admittedly, Ree assumed that she would likely be "wandering around the house and looking under cushions and pillows for granola bar wrappers and random sweaty socks, or other things that allow me to pretend that Todd is still home," she said. But the truth of the matter is, Ree and Ladd are making the most of their time spent together.
For one thing, dinner for two has become much more commonplace. Ree has also been going on long walks and spending quality time with Betsy at Sister House. But there's also been some excitement over in Pawhuska, too. The Merc recently took on a major renovation and Ree has even been roped into doing work on the Drummond ranch.
In a recent Instagram post, Ree tells us how she really feels about doing ranch work.
"Kids please come back, Dad's making me go to work with him now. #emptynest #nofilter #yesterdaysmascara #okaybye," Ree wrote in a recent Instagram post.
Of course, Ree and Ladd aren't completely alone. They'll always have their basset hounds to help with the ranch work.
And the many (many) cows to keep them company.
While being an empty nester isn't always easy, Ree is taking the new role in stride. Then again, a visit from her kids is always welcome! (We're looking at you Alex, Bryce, Paige, Jamar, and Todd! 😉)
Do you have any tips for living in an empty nest? Share them in the comments!
Kara Zauberman is the Senior Editor of Content Strategy at The Pioneer Woman, covering stories ranging from food, lifestyle, news, and more. When she’s not writing and editing, you can find her seeking out new restaurants or cooking for friends and family.
